The Indian Army has evacuated 355 people since launching Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in flood-hit Gujarat and the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, with troops continuing round-the-clock evacuations, medical care, and essential supply distribution across inundated districts.

How Operations Were Launched

Relief efforts commenced on the evening of 23 July under the Southern Command, triggered by widespread flooding caused by incessant monsoon rainfall. The Army is working in close coordination with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), civil administration, police, and other agencies to ensure a unified response.

Seven Army Relief and Rescue Columns — comprising Engineer and Medical teams — have been deployed across the affected zones. Additional columns remain on standby at Vadodara, Ahmedabad, and Jamnagar to respond to any further deterioration.

Where Troops Are Operating

The deployment spans multiple districts: two columns are operating in Navsari, one in the Valsad-Vapi region, three in Ahmedabad covering Ahmedabad city, Ahmedabad Rural, and the Ahmedabad-Rajkot highway, and one column in Silvassa in Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

Rescue teams have been operating in flooded and otherwise inaccessible locations, evacuating residents stranded in submerged buildings and isolated settlements. Medical teams are providing immediate healthcare on-site, while relief personnel have distributed food, drinking water, and other essentials to those awaiting evacuation or the restoration of road connectivity.

Rajoda Village: 82 Trapped Over 40 Hours

One of the most demanding operations unfolded at Rajoda village in Ahmedabad district, where the Army's Golden Katar Division launched continuous rescue operations from 8:30 pm the previous night. According to the Army, 82 civilians had been trapped for more than 40 hours inside the Amazon warehouse and adjoining buildings — a situation described as unfolding under 'extremely challenging conditions.'

All 82 were successfully evacuated. Medical assistance was provided to those requiring treatment, and relief teams continued supplying food, water, and essential items to remaining affected residents in the area.

Rescue Operations Ongoing

The Golden Katar Division confirmed that rescue operations remain in progress, with Army personnel pressing on to evacuate all remaining stranded civilians. This is the second large-scale HADR deployment by the Army in Gujarat within recent monsoon seasons, underscoring the recurring flood vulnerability of the region's low-lying districts and river-adjacent settlements.

With standby columns positioned at three additional locations, the Army says it is prepared to scale up rapidly if conditions worsen across the state.